Duriavich Crew – Assigned 753 Squadron – February 6, 1945
Crew Photo Needed
Flying at the End of Hostilities
| Rank | Name | Serial # | Crew Position | Date | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2Lt | John F Duriavich | 02058743 | Pilot | 18-Apr-45 | FEH | Last Mission Flown |
| F/O | William Doninger | T64168 | Co-pilot | 18-Apr-45 | FEH | Last Mission Flown |
| F/O | John Dilks | T128716 | Navigator | 18-Apr-45 | FEH | Last Mission Flown |
| F/O | Donald W Brewer | T134389 | Bombardier | 18-Apr-45 | FEH | Last Mission Flown |
| S/Sgt | Daniel Hacku | 31336401 | Radio Operator | 18-Apr-45 | FEH | Last Mission Flown |
| S/Sgt | Robert A Roberts | 32912245 | Flight Engineer | 18-Apr-45 | FEH | Last Mission Flown |
| Sgt | Robert W Knox | 16190057 | Aerial Gunner | 18-Apr-45 | FEH | Last Mission Flown |
| Sgt | James H Porter | 42058886 | Airplane Armorer | 18-Apr-45 | FEH | Last Mission Flown |
| Sgt | Alfred T Ruthkowski | 32823977 | Aerial Gunner | 18-Apr-45 | FEH | Last Mission Flown |
| Sgt | Herbert C Schulkon | 34666610 | Aerial Gunner | 18-Apr-45 | FEH | Last Mission Flown |
The Duriavich Crew was assigned to the 753BS on February 6, 1945. On March 12th the crew flew their first combat mission to hit the marshaling yards at Friedburg, Germany. Their next mission on the 18th, took them to Berlin. Three additional missions were flown in March.
In April, the crew participated in four combat missions, including the raid on Lechfeld airfield and the German garrison in the Royan Area on April 15th. On the Royan mission, 458th crews carried a mixture of Napalm canisters and 100 pound incendiaries. Duriavich and crew flew their ninth and final combat mission on April 18th to Passau, Germany. The Eighth Air Force ceased all combat operations eight days later.
The crew received the Air Medal on April 16th. On April 25th they were transferred into the 755BS, only to be returned to the 753BS on May 17th. The crew may have been tasked to ferry a Liberator back to the States in June 1945.
Missions
| Date | Target | 458th Msn | Pilot Msn | Serial | RCL | Sqdn | A/C Msn | A/C Name | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03-Mar-45 | NIENBURG | 195 | MSHL | -- | -- | -- | -- | MARSHALING CHIEF | |
| 12-Mar-45 | FRIEDBURG | 202 | 1 | 42-50912 | D | J4 | 21 | THE TRAVLIN' BAG | |
| 18-Mar-45 | BERLIN | 206 | 2 | 42-50456 | D | Z5 | 48 | DOROTHY KAY SPECIAL | |
| 22-Mar-45 | KITZINGEN | 210 | 3 | 41-28980 | V | J4 | 27 | UNKNOWN 009 | |
| 24-Mar-45 | NORDHORN | 212 | 4 | 44-40287 | J | J4 | 54 | BACHELOR'S BEDLAM | |
| 30-Mar-45 | WILHELMSHAVEN | 215 | 5 | 44-50539 | B | J4 | 8 | UNKNOWN 045 | |
| 06-Apr-45 | HALLE | 219 | 6 | 44-40277 | P | J4 | 60 | MISS USED | |
| 09-Apr-45 | LECHFELD | 222 | 7 | 42-50740 | Q | J4 | 33 | OUR BURMA | |
| 15-Apr-45 | ROYAN AREA | 226 | 8 | 44-50539 | B | J4 | 11 | UNKNOWN 045 | |
| 18-Apr-45 | PASSAU | 228 | 9 | 42-50740 | Q | J4 | 35 | OUR BURMA | |
| 19-Apr-45 | ZWIESEL | SCR | -- | 44-50539 | B | J4 | -- | UNKNOWN 045 | SCRUBBED |
The Crew
Duriavich Enlisted in Class As: The three on the right are, (L-R) Daniel Hacku – RO, James Porter – G and Robert Roberts – E
Duriavich Enlisted in Flight Gear: (L-R) James Porter, Unknown, Daniel Hacku, Robert Roberts, Unknown
Castle Gardens, Norwich: Front to back: William Doniger, Dan Hacku, Robert Roberts and James Porter.
John Duriavich – Pilot
Robert Roberts – Flight Engineer
(All photos courtesy: Dan Hacku)